New Releases...

Man, I just found out Avaishai Cohen has a new one(COLORS)& Christian McBride's newest, SCI-FI, has been out about a week. I scoped the some titles at Tower...on SCI-FI, there's a version of "Havona"?
Anyway, no one has picked either of these up yet?!

Too, the long-awaited(for me, anyway)new Headless Torso album is due out Oct 15. "Fuze" & cohorts(Emphron, Lake, & Sadownick)are also set to play back-up rhythm section for a couple other releases(Dean [aka "Vox Populi" of SHT] Bowman's solo album).

Originally posted by JimK Man, I just found out Avaishai Cohen has a new one(COLORS)& Christian McBride's newest, SCI-FI, has been out about a week. I scoped the some titles at Tower...on SCI-FI, there's a version of "Havona"?
Anyway, no one has picked either of these up yet?!

Too, the long-awaited(for me, anyway)new Headless Torso album is due out Oct 15. "Fuze" & cohorts(Emphron, Lake, & Sadownick)are also set to play back-up rhythm section for a couple other releases(Dean [aka "Vox Populi" of SHT] Bowman's solo album).

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I was in Connecticut (Stamford and Hartford) the last couple of days and found out the Torsos had just played locally. Damn. I really dig Fima's playing with Lost Tribe, brings to mind a hybrid of AJ, Marcus and who knows what else. Excellent player.

Guess I need to go shopping. Unfortunately Tower is probably the only source for Cohen and McBride around here and they charge top dollar.

I picked up SCI-FI today(checking it out now)...more acoustic than FAMILY AFFAIR(that's "good"). Right now, "Havona" is playing; to be sure, a decent version. What's killin' me, though, is "that lick" everybody talks about(there was even a thread here at TB devoted to playing it)-
McBride is pullin' it off on the UPRIGHT!

SCI-FI is a well recorded album; there's nothing wrong with McBride's bass playing(at a certain Jazz site, this album is being BBQ'd for being too "commercial"...kinda funny how some of those folks operate at http://www.jazzcorner.com

Q-
I have one Meat Puppets' album(has "Black Water" on it); when I was in an Alternative cover band(mid-'90s), I think we may have played something off of it...I don't really remember.

yea backwater was off of too high to die, thats one of their later albums, i like the stuff between 79 and around 88, once they signed to a major label in 91 they didnt sell out, but some producers tried to change their sound.

Originally posted by JimK I picked up SCI-FI today(checking it out now)...more acoustic than FAMILY AFFAIR(that's "good"). Right now, "Havona" is playing; to be sure, a decent version. What's killin' me, though, is "that lick" everybody talks about(there was even a thread here at TB devoted to playing it)-
McBride is pullin' it off on the UPRIGHT!

SCI-FI is a well recorded album; there's nothing wrong with McBride's bass playing(at a certain Jazz site, this album is being BBQ'd for being too "commercial"...kinda funny how some of those folks operate at http://www.jazzcorner.com

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I bought this at the weekend as well. I do like it as an album - even liked "Walking on the Moon" although I was sure I would hate it before! But I do tend to have a lot of Bass-led Jazz albums in my collection, so it might be inherent bias.

I do think that "Havona" is the most interesting track. As McBride does it virtually "straight" it's possible to make a direct comparison of the same track with upright and Jaco's fretless electric. Now I do think it's amazing technically, that someone can actually play this on upright; but I think it shows up how upright bass can get "lost" in a mix and just become a rhythm instrument, whereas on Jaco's version you can hear every note and double-stop and this adds to the harmony and character of the tune.

I think it's great though, that McBride pays tribute to his influences and that he play the start of his solo exactly as on the Jaco original and only stretches out on the second chorus.

There is also something strange about the drums on the McBride version, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Maybe this again is the difference - Jaco's electric bass line is very busy, but as you can hear each note very clearly it makes sense and adds to the excitement of the track. But at certain points, I just can't hear what McBride is playing and it is lost behind the drums.

Going back to the rest of the album - I can see that "Aja" might be seen as nod to commercialism, but I think it works well as a new "standard" and I'm suprised I have't heard it in this context before. I think I like the choice of material becuase it seems to follow my own musical history much more than most Jazz musicians I hear today. If I was leading a quartet or quintet etc. (one day! ), I would choose stuff like this - while I can appreciate standards like "All the Things you are" - they aren't part of my musical "history", whereas things like Aja and Havona most definitely are.

JimK, thanks for the tip.. I had no idea McBride's new one was out. He's my favorite bass player of any ilk.. I will run out and buy the disc tonight! He was supposed to play here in April but cancelled, it was rescheduled for a week from tomorrow night and now that ain't happening either!

Picked up the above-mentioned Radiohead album and have given it three or four thorough listens...

Au contraire to the dozen of fashionable criticizers of this album (a difference of opinion?! GASP!), I find this album refreshing and fulfilling, even from a sheerly exploratory view.

Utilizing samplers, loops, and the above-average number of electronic manipulations, I feel like this album has the abiity to capture those discontent with the current state of 'rock and roll' and enlighten them with the comfort of knowing there is still hope in deciding where the boundaries of rock lie.

! Instructions to those content with listening to critics' advice about albums in the first place: DO NOT PURCHASE THIS RECORD. It'll do you know good.

Other goodies out there this month-
1)Mike(Headhunters)Clark-ACTUAL PROOF
2)Paul(Headhunters)Jackson-BLACK OCTOPUS
3)Matthew Garrison's debut
4)Dave Weckl-TRANSITION(w/ Tommy Kennedy on bass)
They're all DOMESTIC releases(for us in the US).
Check http://www.audiophileimports.com for details.

I did pick up Frogwings' CROAKIN' AT TOADS today...it's a live recording w/ Oteil Burbridge. There's the sorta jammin' you'd expect from a late '60s/early '70s Rock group(like Santana). Oteil takes a nice scat/bass solo on "Kick n Bach". I'm about 1/2 through the disc...so far, so good.

I couldn't find the "Colours" album over here in the Uk, altough the McBride has been out for quite a while now. But I thought well why not get "Devotion" as I didn't have this and have been very impressed - some nice playing and interesting compositions - a different slant on the straight ahead Jazz thing.

I had 3 cds on order from AI; Dave Weckl, Paul Jackson, Matt Garrison. Of those 3, I anticipated enjoying the Weckl cd the "least". Guess what? I think I'm enjoyin' Weckl's TRANSITION the "most". You know those "cross rhythms" that I'm forever babbling about? Plenty of 'em on this cd. There's a lotta Gringo-fied Latin stuff happenin', too(I'm there with that!). Tom Kennedy, as usual, is very baadddd!
I still find it hard to believe that he's not using his Fodera bass anymore(I think he was the first guy I ever heard playin' one of those...check out Bill Connors' cd, ASSEMBLER from the mid/late-'80s; a cool record in an Alan Holdsworth vibe). I would recommend this cd along with Weckl's previous, SYNERGY. Good stuff...not too heavy, though(that's "OK", too).

Matt Garrison's debut...I love his playing, I love his dad's playing. I know the credits on this cd list both Ben Perowsky & Gene Lake as drummers(both baadddd!)...I dunno, a lotta of the rhythm tracks sound "programmed". There are some moments, though. One track sounds like a Me'Shell groove, another has that Weather Report vibe...the 2 guitarists + the sax player from Lost Tribe are also on board. If you're a fan, pick it up.

Paul Jackson's BLACK OCTOPUS. The first track is Paul playing an acoustic bass in an Avant/Free style. Totally surprised me(I didn't know he played URB). There's some poetry over some of the other tracks; there's some finger funk tunes(as expected). I'm gonna have to sit down & listen to this one again. BTW, if any of you like wearing your bass slung low...then Jackson should be your "role model"!

Missing Persons-
...first time on cd for both RHYME AND REASON & COLOR IN MY LIFE. Finally! Probably the only band that was hell-bent on technology that I liked. I know it was the thing in the '80s, but I'm kinda sorry that Bozzio didn't use ACOUSTIC drums on these records. Maybe I've changed(DUH)...the drums sound a little Mattel-toy. Too, the 1/8 note bass lines played on a synth are a little boring.
Nevertheless, still one of my favorite bands. If you're a fan...you know the rest!

Alright, finally...A COLLECTION of Alphonso Johnson's 1st 3 cds is being released next week. I think it's an import from Europe(about $19 USA)...Bruce Lindfield should be able to pick them up real cheap for everyone!